On 30 March 2011, the Supreme Court gave its judgment in Jones –v- Kaney[2011] UKSC 13, the case which saw an end to the expert witness’s immunity from suit in negligence. This reversed a line of authority dating back 400 years, and commentators have called it a landmark ruling, a historic decision, a major victory for claimant lawyers, the end of the amateur expert, and the professionalising of the expert witness industry. How valid are these comments?
Julian Assange won a significant victory in his battle against extradition to Sweden today, after judges allowed him to petition the supreme court.
The Wikileaks founder actually lost his appeal, but judges said it was of "general public importance" that his case be heard.
He now has 14 days to launch a written application for the supreme court to rule directly on whether the Swedish authorities had the authority to issue European arrest warrants.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has focused heavily on actions to stem climate change and to address piracy off the coast of Somalia, in what has been a busy and productive biennium for the Organization on the regulatory front, Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos told delegates at the opening (on Monday, 21 November) of the 27th session of the Organization’s highest governing body, the Assembly. The meeting is being attended by more than 1,000 delegates from IMO Member States as well as from international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
by Dr Rupert Whitaker
The public has probably complained about clinicians’ behaviour since the beginning of medicine, but malpractice litigation is an extreme and ineffective form of feedback as even successful suits do not require any change in the defendants’ behaviour.
Furthermore, the culture of clinical practice is defensive of the practitioner rather than the patient due to an outdated sense of privilege, particularly among physicians, which results in a form of professional narcissism and closing of ranks that can make things even more difficult for the plaintiff.
In countries where Islam is not widely understood, ensuring the legality of the Islamic marriage contract (nikkah) in the courts presents special challenges.
Marriage in Islam is not a sacrament, but a covenant. It is solidified when the couple agrees to or signs a legally binding marriage contract, or nikkah.
Although a couple may include highly detailed prenuptial agreements in their marriage contract, cases do arise where a spouse contests the terms agreed upon. How then can Muslims in Western countries ensure the legality of the marriage contract at the time of its signing?
